Free Bytes: Hero Core

The problem with evil sentient robots is they have a nasty habit of not staying dead once you've gone through all the trouble of figuring out a way to finally kill them. Being made of metal and wires has its perks, including the convenient ability to be resurrected and rebuilt from scratch. That's the problem the aptly named Flip Hero runs into when he travels to the heart of an asteroid to defeat his mechanical warlord nemesis Cruiser Tetron. Leaving his adversary a pile of space dust, he later finds out wicked robotic minions have built a new base in a new asteroid and have completely reassembled their previously slain master. Man, this jerk needs some re-killing. There's work to be done.

From the mind of Daniel Remar, the maker of popular indie game Iji, Hero Core is a stylish Metroidvania-style space adventure with a sprinkle of Air Fortress thrown in for good measure. With a retro black-and-white visual look that gives a simultaneous nod to the NES, Commodore 64 and the Atari 2600, this exploration shooter sequel has you using your jetpack and blaster to navigate a dangerous non-linear asteroid fortress filled with pixilated robotic creatures. You can fly around (or hover in place), shoot left or right, and warp to any previous save point you've encountered while exploring rooms on the expansive map. The gameplay is simple and fun, though it's the extra touches that really make this one a must-play.

Clever boss battles await you in the game's numerous sectors, and defeating each boss earns you a power-up that boosts your fighting capabilities and lets you get to areas of the map you previously couldn't access. For the most part, you can tackle bosses in any order, and there are also lots of hidden computer terminals to locate to get 100 percent completion. If you're feeling suicidal, you can always strike out to battle Tetron himself right from the get-go. Good luck with that. Hero Core is a well-crafted game that brings back fond memories of days long past.